Software Developers at ECSA-HC – 2 Positions

Arusha

The East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community

EAST, CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN AFRICA HEALTH COMMUNITY

Thanzi La Mawa Research Project

Job Title: Software Developer (2 Positions)

Reports to: Principal Investigator – Thanzi Research Programme

Background

The East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) invites applications for the position of Software Developer from suitably qualified persons, who are nationals of member states. The member states are Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The position is tenable at ECSA Health Community Secretariat, based in Arusha, Tanzania.

The Organization

The East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) is a regional organization set up in 1974 to promote the highest standards of health among member countries. It is mandated to foster cooperation that will lead to the strengthening of health care programmes among member states in the region. The Secretariat implements its activities through specific programmes and projects in Health Systems and Capacity Development; Family Health and Infectious Diseases; Non-communicable Diseases, Food Security and Nutrition; and Knowledge Management, Monitoring and Evaluation.

Background to the Thanzi La Mawa Project

In the last few years, ECSA-HC in collaboration with partners implemented the Than zi l a
Onse (Health of All) research programme, whose core objective was to improve population health and reduce health inequities in the Eastern, Central and Southern Africa (ECSA) region. A major research project within this initiative was the development of a
mathematical model in Malawi – the TLO mod el – that can be used to inform planning decision in healthcare service delivery. The model is individual-based and represents all major health conditions and the effect of interventions. It is a uniquely powerful tool to examine important cross-cutting issues, including determining the Essential Health Package for a country that is deliverable with the resources and capabilities currently available, and evaluating investments in different types of “healthcare system strengthening”. A major project, called Thanzi La Mawa (Health of Tomorrow), funded by the The Wellcome Trust, supports the development and the use of this model in the wider region, and thereby contribute to the objectives of improving population health through data-informed resource allocation and strategic planning and investment. ECSA-HC will accomplish this by making the model available for use by analysts working in the ECSA region and by supporting them in the adoption and application of the model.

Job Responsibilities and Tasks
The Software Developer will:

i. Develop the TLO Model in ways that maximise its potential for responding to real questions on policy and planning in healthcare service delivery in the region.

ii. Develop the TLO Model to maximise ease-of-use for new analysts that would wish to use it. This will include a needs solicitation from target users and the associated technical developments, deployment, and creation of documentation.

iii. Support analysts in the region to learn about the TLO Model and consider its suitability for questions they are tackling. This will include developing a curriculum to teach the model’s theoretical and technical underpinnings and designing and running workshops to support analysts in the region in using the model.

iv. To take a ‘hands-on’ approach to directly supporting a small selection of analysts in the ECSA region to adapt the TLO Model to another setting and to apply the model to a strategic question.

The post-holders would work collaboratively with counterparts based at the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (Health Economics and Policy Unit) in Malawi and a team that also includes researchers in the United Kingdom, at Imperial College London, University College London and the University of York.

Education and Working Experience

i. Degree in a quantitative/scientific subject, such as computing, mathematics or natural sciences.

ii. Experience of developing technical analytical software and its documentation is essential.

iii. Experience of developing software that is applied to novel technical questions in research, especially in the field of healthcare and governmental planning and policy is desirable.

iv. Knowledge of (or interest to gain the knowledge) of how mathematical modelling can be used to inform decision-making.

v. Experience in the use of mathematical models to answer real-world questions and presenting to non-specialists will be an asset.

Essential Skills and Abilities

i. Advanced programming skills in Python; or, experience in at least one of C, C++, Java, or R, and a willingness to learn Python to an advanced level.

ii. Confident ability in using git, collaborating on code development, and working within a defined technical style.

iii. Ability to interact with academics, especially in other disciplines

iv. Ability to learn (self-directedly) new concepts, techniques, packages, etc. as required to solve the problem at hand.

v. Excellent verbal communication skills and the ability to deal with a wide range of people and work in a multi-cultural environment

vi. Excellent written communication skills and the ability to write clearly and succinctly for lay audiences and for publications

vii. Ability to prioritise own work in response to deadlines

viii.Willingness to travel internationally to conduct research and attend conferences

Age

Applicants must be between 25 and 50 years old

Remuneration Package

The position offers an attractive package, including salary and benefits applicable to internationally recruited staff at Senior Programme Officer level.

Contract Appointment

This will be a two-year performance-based contract. Renewal will depend on availability of funding and continuing need for the position.

Method of Application

Nationals of members States who wish to apply for the Post should do so by submitting the following:

a. Brief Application Letter stating why the candidate feels suitable for the Post

b. Detailed Curriculum Vitae.

c. Completed Application form for ECSA-HC posts (available under vacancies/opportunities jobs on www.ecsahc.org

d. Certified copies of Educational and Professional Certificates

e. Names of three (3) referees with their addresses including telephone and e-mail

Applications that have not met all of the above set criteria will not be accepted. Only candidates who have met all the requirements of the post and have been selected for an interview will be contacted.

Applications should reach the address below by 4th December, 2023.

The Director General

East, Central and Southern Africa-Health Community

Plot 157 Oloirien, Njiro Road

P.O. Box 1009

Arusha, Tanzania

E-mail: vacancies@ecsahc.org with copies to regsec@ecsahc.org ; doid@ecsahc.org;

The ECSA Health Community is an equal opportunities employer. Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply

Software Developers at ECSA-HC – 2 Positions